How can I have a wooden coat of arms carved?

You send us your existing family or club coat of arms – or your idea – by e-mail or post. Master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach creates a design, chooses suitable wood and carves your coat of arms by hand. Afterwards, the coat of arms is painted in heraldic colours and shipped by parcel service or forwarding agent.

How much does a hand-carved family coat of arms cost?

The price of a carved family coat of arms depends on size, level of detail, type of wood and any gold decoration. Smaller coats of arms are usually less expensive than large, richly decorated shields. Based on your information on size and execution we prepare an individual, non-binding quotation.

Which woods are used for carved coats of arms?

For carved coats of arms we mainly use carefully selected, well-seasoned woods with a fine structure. Depending on motif and size, for example limewood or other proven carving woods are used that can be carved cleanly and painted well.

Are the coats of arms painted according to heraldic rules?

Yes. The colours follow heraldic rules and are based on the official template of your family coat of arms, fraternity crest or municipal arms. Special wishes regarding colours and surface finishes can be discussed in advance.

How long does it take to make a carved coat of arms?

The production time depends on the size and complexity of the coat of arms. For a hand-carved crest you should usually allow several weeks. For fixed dates such as anniversaries or house warmings please contact us as early as possible.

Coat of arms information – hand-carved wooden heraldry

Here you will find answers to the most important questions about hand-carved and colour-painted wooden coats of arms: family crests, noble coats of arms, fraternity shields, city and municipal arms, company logos and association crests.

In the Gerlach Woodcarving workshop, every coat of arms and logo is created as an individual piece of craftsmanship. Each work is a unique, hand-carved original.

→ To the heraldry lexicon

What types of carved coats of arms are there?

In my studio, wooden coats of arms in many different sizes and versions have been created for years. Master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach most frequently produces:

Coats of arms for entrance halls, interiors and fireplaces
Family coats of arms for living rooms, fireplaces and representative entrances
Noble coats of arms and historical heraldry in traditional craftsmanship, carved and painted
Fraternity and student coats of arms for student fraternities, corporations and corps
City and municipal coats of arms for town halls, clubs and public buildings
Guild and trade coats of arms for crafts and businesses
Military coats of arms for brigades and different branches of service

How your carved coat of arms is created – step by step

Every coat of arms is planned individually. From the first sketch to the finished relief carved and painted in heraldic colours, many work steps are necessary:

Commissioning a coat of arms – based on your idea or an existing design
You send me a drawing, illustration or short description of your coat of arms by e-mail or post. I will gladly advise you on size and execution.
Design and coordination
On the basis of your suggestions and rough sketches, master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach develops the design together with you. Proportions, helmet, crest, shield supporters and ornamental mantling as well as the desired colouring are carefully harmonised. The design is adjusted digitally until you give your approval. The coat of arms is then carved as a high relief and painted in the specified heraldic colours – on request with gold or silver leaf.
Selection of wood
As wood I mainly use Nordic birch; the panel is finger-jointed in strips to keep it stable and to minimise cracking or warping. To achieve a very plastic high relief, thicker areas are laminated – that means additional wood is glued onto the base panel.
Hand carving
The coat of arms is carved entirely by hand. First the rough shapes are laid out; depth, light and shadow make the coat of arms become lively and three-dimensional.
Colouring according to heraldic rules
Afterwards the coat of arms is painted in the correct heraldic tinctures. On request, gold leaf and special surface treatments are possible.
Mounting and shipping
Depending on size, the back is prepared for wall mounting and the finished work is packed securely for parcel service or forwarding agent.

What influences the price of a carved coat of arms?

Because every coat of arms is a unique piece with its own symbolism, each hand-carved wooden crest is calculated individually. Two factors are especially important: size and complexity. It is good to know that a small coat of arms of around 40 cm in height can actually be more time-consuming than a larger one because the details of the symbols become very small.

Also important is how many heraldic symbols the design contains – that is, the graphic elements that make up shield, helmet and other components such as crest and mantling. Many coats of arms are “canting arms”, in which the symbolism refers to the family name.

Size and format of the coat of arms
Level of detail of helmet, crest, symbolism, shield supporters and ornament
Effort required for painting and gilding
Preparation for mounting and special requests
Packaging and shipping costs

If you let me know your ideas regarding size, motif and execution, I will gladly prepare an individual quotation.

Heraldry and family coats of arms – why have your own crest?

More and more people are interested in where they come from and who their ancestors were. In genealogy, heraldry is an important companion. A family coat of arms is a connecting symbol across generations – something that can be inherited and at the same time a very special gift within the family.

A coat of arms is a visible sign of origin, history and cohesion. It often accompanies a family, a noble house or a fraternity for centuries and becomes as much a part of identity as the name itself.

Enquiry about carved coats of arms by e-mail

If you would like to have a wooden coat of arms carved or if you have questions about a planned project, simply send me an e-mail with a few details about the motif, size and where the finished piece will later be installed.

You will find more about the workshop process here:

More about the craft process can be found here:

How a heraldic coat of arms is created in the workshop of master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach .

Heraldry lexicon • Coat of arms information

Enquiry to:

Master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach